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The Vatican Swindle
Hardcover
Classic FictionGeneral FictionLiterary Fiction
ISBN13: 9781026065709
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 288
Weight: 1.28
Height: 0.69 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Vatican Swindle is a brilliant satirical novel by André Gide that explores the complexities of morality, religion, and the human psyche through a lens of farce and social critique. The narrative centers on a daring and absurd conspiracy involving a group of con artists who convince devout Catholics that the Pope has been kidnapped and replaced by an impostor. As they solicit funds for a secret crusade to rescue the true Pontiff, the plot weaves through a series of interconnected lives, most notably that of Lafcadio Wluiki, a young man who embodies the fascination with the acte gratuit-a spontaneous, unmotivated act committed purely to assert one's freedom.
Set against the backdrop of late 19th-century Europe, the work functions as a sotie, a specific form of satirical playfulness that lampoons the hypocrisy of the bourgeoisie and institutional religious structures. Gide masterfully balances humor and philosophical inquiry, challenging the reader to reconsider the nature of identity and the foundations of ethical behavior. With its intricate plot and sharp wit, The Vatican Swindle remains a landmark of literature and a provocative exploration of the limits of individual liberty and the absurdity of social conventions.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
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